Banned, but still cuts like a knife

Four months after the use of Chinese manja, a string used to fly kites, was banned in the city, birds continue to fall prey to this killer string.

An abrasive string which is gummed, coloured and coated with powdered glass, Chinese manja is seen as a threat to birds and humans alike. BBMP wildlife warden Sharath Babu said: “We get around 80 calls a day and we rescue birds such as kite, crow and pigeon as well as mammals such as mongoose, squirrel and monkey.” BBMP wildlife officials have rescued birds trapped in rooftops and trees.

On May 17,  Enjeerappa, president of All India Minority Backward Dalit Shakti Parishathu, spotted a black kite, also known as pariah kite, hanging from a tree branch near the Cantonment station. Passersby were throwing stones at the bird. He informed BBMP officials and the fire brigade. Two assistant fire officers climbed the tree and rescued the bird which had suffered injuries on its left wing. It was taken away by wildlife volunteers for treatment.

Volunteers risk their life and limb while trying to rescue birds trapped at the top branches of tall trees where even the fire brigade cannot reach.

“We have saved around 60 birds over the past four months. Chinese manja is as good as a lethal weapon,” said a BBMP volunteer.

Around 15 cities in the country, including Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana and Mumbai, have banned the use of Chinese thread because it has proved lethal at times.

But BBMP commissioner MK Shankarlinge Gowda told DNA he has not received any complaints regarding birds being killed by the thread.